Jimmy Russell Obituary (1947 - 2021)

Jimmy Ray Russell, 73, passed away early Sunday morning on September 26, 2021 at Hays Medical Center, in Hays, Kansas. He was born December 3, 1947 to Helen Lucille (Everhart) and Elias Ezra Russell in Elkhart, Kansas. He married Kathleen Joyce (Morrow) on December 15, 1967 in Elkhart, and born from this union were three daughters: Cindy, Holly, and Sandy. They later divorced. Jim met Melanie Lynn (Ward) in the early nineties and they married on September 20, 1997 in Sublette. Jim worked at Machine Supply at the parts counter and then later for the City of Sublette in the maintenance department. He volunteered his time as a fireman and EMT for the community of Sublette. Jim served on the Sublette Hospital Board and also served a term as president. He was hard-working, hard-loving, and his daughters would say hard-headed at times, too. Jim enjoyed cooking for his family and friends, as well as, spending many hours in his shop working on projects and building treasured items out of wood. Survivors include his wife, Melanie Russell; daughters, Cindy Brown of Buckly, WA, Holly Fine and Ernest Barkdoll of Forgan, OK, Sandy Russell and Jesse Martinez of Plevna, KS, and Jewel Litton and husband Kurt of Dodge City, KS; son, Jason Wetz and Chanda Mendoza of Wichita, KS; fourteen grandchildren, and nine great-grandchildren; and a brother, Larry Russell of Oklahoma City, OK. There will be no viewing as cremation has taken place. His family will gather at Jim's favorite place, Cathouse Recreation in Lane County to celebrate his life. Suggested memorial contributions are to the family. Please make checks payable to Weeks Family Funeral Home & Crematory, PO Box 1200, Sublette, KS 67877. Condolences may be left online at WeeksFamilyFuneralHome.com. To send flowers to the family of Jimmy Ray Russell, please visit our Heartfelt Sympathies Store.